New boy Rusty keen to restrict batsmen, sample life's finer things

It's fair to say Rusty Theron is a bit of a character. Perhaps it's the red hair, perhaps the humble upbringing, perhaps its simply that he is up for whatever life throws at him.

Theron's CEO at the Warriors, Dave Emslie, tells the story of taking the team out for a meal at uShaka Marineworld. While the rest of the team kept a careful eye on the prices and obligingly ordered steaks and burgers, Theron selected crayfish. When Emslie got the bill, he pointed out to Theron that it cost much more than the others' meals. Theron duly paid the difference without being asked to do so.

Explaining his actions, Theron says: "I'd never eaten crayfish before. There we were at this larney seafood restaurant and I was keen to try it. The CEO was there with the credit card and I agreed with him that I'd pay the difference .

"I think you need to experience the finer things in life. I'm up for most things other than maybe bungee-jumping. If I have R1000 in my pocket and I see a R200 cigar I'm going to try it because that's what life is for."

Theron takes nothing for granted - there couldn't be a less cynical person. This probably has to do with moving around when he was younger - he was born in Vanderbijlpark and lived in Parys as a laaitie.

When he was 11, the family moved to Humansdorp because they loved holidaying there. Six months in Humansdorp were followed by a move to nearby Port Elizabeth, where moving was the order of the day yet again.

He started his standard five year at Settler's Park in Walmer but finished off at an Afrikaans school, Dr Viljoen, before moving to Grey for high school.

"I opened the batting for the first team at Grey. That was in Grade 11, so I can bat a bit. I remember playing for Eastern Province under-13 and being told that I would be batting at eight. I felt like crying."

The main influence on Theron's early career was his brother Marc, a left-arm pace bowler eight years older and with a well-developed mean streak.

"Rusty's largely self-taught," says Emslie. "I remember him and his brother playing in the concrete nets at St George's for hours. He wouldn't wear a box. I think Rusty only wore a box for the first time about a year ago."

A decent prospect, Marc was asked to follow Kepler Wessels to Griquas about 10 years ago. It didn't quite work out - Theron says his older brother struggled to adapt to life away from home - although Marc remains a vociferous and sometimes overly-passionate fan.

Playing endless games against his brother required not only handiness with the bat, but ability to bowl. Theron, despite his unorthodoxy, realised he was strong and fit and had the gas that was clearly a family trait.

He describes himself as a "feel bowler", relying on nous and muscle memory to guide his length and uncanny ability to bowl yorkers and clever slower balls.

"I've never had any problems with batsmen coming at me," says Theron in response to a question about the limited-overs game being exceptionally unfriendly to bowlers.

"I wouldn't say I enjoy them coming at me with a capital E but I do enjoy keeping runs down and restricting batsmen."

In the series against Zimbabwe that finished on Friday night in Benoni, Theron took wickets - he took five for 43 in Potch last Sunday - and kept the runs down.

Such talents will come in handy in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday when the Proteas take on Pakistan in the first of two T20 internationals.

As the fans and pundits are putting their finishing touches to their World Cup squad, it will be interesting to see how Theron does on the glass-flat pitches of the Emirates.